Moistureproofing compositions



l atentecl Mar. 14, 195i? MOISTUREPRUQFING GOMPQ SITIONS Joe E. Moose,Reno, Nev., assignor to Monsanto Chemical iiompany, St. Louis, lVIo., acorporation of Delaware No Drawing. Original application May 24, 1946,

Serial No. 672.,16i. Divided and this application August 22, 1949,Serial No. 111,757

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to. a new composition of matter and particularlyto a wax composition containing a natural or synthetic wax incombination with a material selected from the group consisting ofterphenyls, mixtures of terphenyls, hydrogenated terphenyls and N-xen'ylstearamides.

An objectof the invention is to provide a stable wax composition of:improved moistureand water resistant properties.

An additional object is to provide an improved wax-containing coatingand impregnating composition for moistureproofing paper, fabrics, andsimilar porousfibrous materials.

A further object is to provide a hot dip coatingfor artificial flowers,artificial fruit and other decorative articles;

A still further object is to provide ahot dip coating for artificialflowers which is characterize'dby the property of stifiening the petalswithout leavingthick edges, and of imparting apleas ing translucentappearance thereto.

Other objects will beapparenttothoseskilled' in the art as thedescription proceeds.

Heretofore, numerous materials have been incorporated with waxes tomodify their properties so as to render them more suitable for use ascoating and impregnating materials.

For example, synthetic resins, natural resins and derivatives thereofhave been incorporated with waxesto increase their resistance tomoisture and to: harden them and thereby decrease their tendency tosmear. The resulting compositions, however, have not been entirelysatisfactory as" in some instances the modifying material possesseda'low order of compatibility with the wax, and this led to the formationof products of uneven consistency, which were cloudy in appearance.Moreover, when applied as a coating to a given base, these compositionswere unstable as the-modifying material separated from the mixture bycrystallization, thus impairing the appearance of the coating and thecoated product.- Another' difficulty encountered with the abovecompositions has been the phenomenon known as delayed blushing. Thus, aselected wax modifier, when incorporated with the wax base,. appeared tobe compatible therewith, only to sepa-- rate by crystallization within afew weeks or months after the wax-containing coating composition hadbeen applied. This separation on the part of the modifier not onlyimpaired the appearance of the coating but also its hardness andresistance to moisture transmission.

In addition to overcoming the above-described that its dippingtemperature should be such that the excess wax readily drain from theflower before it solidifies on the petals, and. the resulting productshould have no thick wax edges alter the wax has solidified.

Another requirement is that the wax coating composition should stiffenthe petals but have sumcient flexibility to permit the petals to yieldsomewhat whena bending stress is applied.

An additional requirement is that, aiter application to the flowers, thecoating should be suii'iciently dull and translucent to permit thebright colors to show through without imparting anartiflcial appearanceto the flowers.

A further requirement is that the wax coating should be of suchconsistency that the lines or raised portions of the paper used inmaking flowers are more or less completely obliterated, since theselines or raised'portions are not present in natural flowers.

I have now.;to'und that-if waxes or Wax-like substances are combinedwith a modifying material selected fromthe-groupconsisting oiterphenyis, mixtures of terphen'yls, hydrogenated terphenyls and N-xenylstearamides, compositions fulfilling the: above objectives andrequirements are obtained in which the disadvantages hereinbeforedescribed are either substantially reduced or completely eliminated. Themodifier is added to the wax or wax-like 'materialin an amount which mayfluctuate withinwide limits depending upon the wax/0r the modifyingagent selected, the only requirement in this respect being that themodifier and-wax should'not' be combined in proportions exceeding thelimits of their mutual compatibility; In general, it is desirable torestrict the content of the modifier within the limits of from about 10to about 25% by weight, but considerably higher or slightly lowerproportions of this material are also within the scope of the presentinvention.

The modifying materials contained in the wax compositions of the presentinvention serve as plasticizers, moistureproofing substances or ascombined plasticizing and moistureproofing agents.

Having thus indicated in a general way the natureof the invention,reference is made to the following specific examples for a more completeunderstanding thereof. Examples I-VI illustrate the proportions in partsper hundred the ingredients which were usedin preparing the variousforms of modified wax. The compositions were prepared and applied toKraft paper in the following manner.

The indicated' rop'ortionsor wax and modifying material were 'melted,intimately mixed and applied at suitable temperatures to the paper, thetemperatures varying with the melting point of the wax composition. Thelower melting compositions ("C'. or belowY were applied directly passageunder the spreading knife.

The coated paper products obtained in the above manner were tested formoisture vapor transmission in a Southwick G. F. M. V. T. machine, andcompared with Kraft paper similarly coated with unmodified waxes. Theresults of these tests are given in the following examples.

Example I Grams M. V. '1. Average Paper Thickness Composition of Coatingg gf 3 'is of Paper 0 0a rig rs..

Inches Inches Kraft- 0.005 (a) Bensdzill M. C. Wax, 100%; SofteningPoint, 71 0. 0035 0. 169 Do 0.005 (b) Bzzjr nsdall M. C. Wax, 90%;Softening Point, 71 0. 004 0. 077

Mixture of isomeric Terphenyls, Soitening Point, 149 0.

Example II GramsM V '1. Average Tm i i ckness 100 Sq. In., 24 Paper'lglfii lgiggss Composition of Coating of Coating hrs" 100 F" InchesInches Kraft"... 0.005 (a) Socony Vacuum 2300 Wax, 100%; Softening 0.003 0.860

Point, 62 0. Do. 0. 005 (b) Sop ng Vacuum 2300 Wax, Softening Point, 0.004 0. 132

Mirture of Isomeric Terphenyls; Softening Point, 149 0.

Example III Grams M V T Average Thickness 100 S q. 111., 24 Paper 'lgtilelgggss Composition of Coating of Coating ms" F" Inches Inches Kraft0.005 (a) Hemp Wax, Softening Point, 61 C.62 O. 0. 0045 0. 370 Do 0.005(D) Hemp Wax, 90%; Softening Point, 61 C.-62 C 0.004 0.139

Mixture of isomeric Terphenyls, 10%; Softening Point, 149 C.

Example IV Grams M. V. '1. 1 Average Paper Thickness Composition ofCoating g g- 9 ggof Paper oa mg is,

. Inches Inches Kraft 0.005 (a) Hemp Wax, 100%; Softening Point, 61C.-62 C. 0. 0045 0.376 Don... 0.005 (b) Hemp Wax, 90%; Softening Point,61 O.-62 0.. 0. 0035 0. 149

Meta-terphenyl, 10%; Softening Point, 84

Example V Grams M V T Average Paper Thickness Composition of Coating ggggfi of Paper g Inches Inches Kraftflfl 0.005 (a) Yellow Ceresin, 100%;Softening Point, 09 C- 0. 0045 0.111 Do 0. 005 (0) Yellow Ceresin, 90%;Softening Point, 69 0..... 0.0035 0.103

Metaterphenyl, 10%; Softening Point, 84

Example VI Grams M V '1 Average Paper 12515131135 Composition of Coating3 62 353; 3259 Inches Inches I Krafl; 0.005 (a) Hemp Wax, 100%;Softening Point, 61 C.-62 C. 0. 0045 0.376 Do 0. 005 (b) Hemp Wax, 20%;Softening Point, 61 C.62 C 0.005 0.111

N-fioiigtlo-xsigigysteammide, 80%; Softening Point,

The foregoing examples man demonstrate that the above modifying agentssubstantially in.- crease the resistance of the wax coating to moisturevapor transmission.

. The modified wax coatings were in each instance tough and flexible andthe modifying agent displayed no tendency to separate from the wax bycrystallization.

The following examples illustrate additional compositions which werefound to be-particularly suitable for hot dipping artificial flowersmade of crepe paper.

Example VII Per cent Meta terphenyl; softening point, 84-85 C 25Paraffin; softening point, 53 C 40 Yellow ceresin; softening point, 69 C35 Softening point of mixture, 53 C.

flowers in the same manner and with substantially the same resultsexcept that the coating had a pale translucent tan color asdistinguished from the white translucent color obtained in Example VII.

In addition to being suitable for hot dipping artificial flowers, thecomposition disclosed in Examples VII and VIII may be used for coatingartificial fruit and similar decorative articles and also formoistureproofing paper, fabrics and other porous fibrous materials.

The foregoing examples are merely illustrative of the improved Waxcompositions and it is to be understood that the invention is not in anysense restricted thereto.

For example, a wide range of ingredients may be effectively substitutedin place of those designated in the examples. Any vegetable, insect,synthetic or mineral wax or waxy substance or mixture of waxes or waxysubstances may be used in place of the parafiin, ceresin, Barnsdall M.C. wax, Dallawax, hemp wax and Socony Vacuum #2300 wax used in theexamples. Thus, in place of the waxes specifically mentioned, bayberrywax, beeswax, carnauba wax, candelilla wax, Chinese wax, Japan wax,montan wax, ozokerite, spermaceti, Opal wax, cetyl alcohol and similarwaxes and wax-like substances may be used.

Moreover, modifying materials other than those specifically mentionedabove may be employed and as further examples of these the following arelisted.

1. Mixtures of isomeric terphenyls, S. P. 140- 150 C. 2. Mixture ofterphenyls consisting of about "(0% meta terphenyl and about 30% paraterphenyl. 3. Orthoterphenyl, S. P. 50-55 C.

4.ParaterphenyLS.1 .21290;

meta terphenyl (M. P. about 50: C.) and hydrogenated para terphenyl-'(M..P C.) r

6. N-para xenyl stearamide, crystallization point The wax compositionsofthepresent invention may include only a 'Wax or waxy substance and amodifier of the above type or it may contain additional modifyingagents. These compositions are excellent coating and impregnatingmaterials which may be used in moistureproofing paper, paper boardstock, cloth, regenerated cellulose, glassine, cellulose acetate and thelike. They are preferably applied in the form of a hot melt to the baseto be coated or impregnated, but may be used in the form of a solutionor an emulsion.

The coatings produced from these compositions are free of air holes, areof even consistency and are tough, flexible, and resistant to weatheringand severe changes in climatic conditions.

Where the word wax is used in the claims, it is to be understood thatnatural waxes, synthetic waxes and wax-like materials are contemplated.

Barnsdall MC wax and Socony Vacuum 2300 wax are microcrystallineproducts of petroleum origin which, according to H. Bennett (CommercialWaxes, Chemical Publishing 00., N. Y. 1944, page 60) have substantiallythe following properties.

Barnsdall pecial Wax 00 Melting Point, F Specific Gravity at 60 FSpecific Gravity at 210 F. Viscos. at 210 F. (Sayb.).

For a more detailed discussion of the properties of Socony Vacuum 2300wax, reference is made to the Technical Bulletin of Socony-Vacuum Oil00., August 1944, pages 1-12.

Staybe'lite is a resin obtained from the partly and completelyhydrogenated acid and nonacid constituents of rosin. (Standard Chemicaland Technical Dictionary, 1939 by H. Bennett.)

Dallawax 89 is a microcrystalline petrolatum blend having a softeningpoint of 69 C.

As many widely different embodiments of this invention may be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it is to beunderstood that the invention is not to be limited to the specificembodiments thereof, except as defined in the appended claims.

This application is a division Serial Number 672,151, filed May What Iclaim is:

l. A hot dip coating and impregnating composition for artificialflowers, artificial fruit and the like consisting of 37% by weight ofN-ortho xenyl stearamide (S. P. 59 C.), 60% by weight of amicrocrystalline petrolatum blend having a softening point of 69 C. and3% by weight of hydrogenated rosin having a softening point of 98 C.

2. Artificial paper flowers coated with a trans lucent wax compositionconsisting of 37% by weight of N -ortho xenyl stearamide (S. P. 59 C.)

of application, 24, 1946.

80% by might of a rpicrocz yitallini pet'irolatum UNITED STI TES PATENTS2:aim; amma?23m:ra s? ig mg mint 2:338:176 GoepfeFEIIIIIl-Jaini,1944 JOEE MOOSE 5 2,404,896 Aelony July 30, 1946 OTHER REFERENCES REFERENGESCITED National Paint Dictionary, Stewart, 3rd ed.,

The following referenes are of record in the Laros Printing Co., 1948,pp. 544-545. (Copy in file of this patent: division 64.)

1. A HOT DIP COATING AND IMPREGNATING COMPOSITION FOR ARTIFICAL FLOWERS,ARTIFICIAL FRUIT AND THE LIKE CONSIDERING OF 37% BY WEIGHT OF N-ORTHOXENYL STEARSMIDE (S.P. 59*C.). 60% BY WEIGHT OF A MICROCRYSTALLINEPETROLATUM BLEND HAVING A SOFTENING POINT OF 69*C. AND 3% BY WEIGHT OFHYDROGENATED ROSIN HAVING A SOFTENING POINT OF 98*C.